Cornwall police awards mark bond with SDG Highlanders

SDG Highlanders Maj. Jason A. Steeves, left, presents Acting Staff Sgt. George Knezevic with a regimental coin for his help and guidance with the SD&G Highlanders. The presentation was made during an awards ceremony Oct. 22, 2015. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

Editor’s note: A gallery of photos from the awards ceremony is at the bottom of this story.

CORNWALL – The relationship between Cornwall police and the SDG Highlanders was recognized during a police awards ceremony Thursday night.

SDG Highlanders Maj. Jason Steeves was on hand to make a coin presentation to Cornwall police Acting Staff Sgt. George Knezevic, a new addition to the 21st Annual Retirement & Recognition Evening.

“As a serving officer for over 27 years now, I certainly understand what it means to dedicate your life to a calling,” Steeves told roughly 150 people in the Simon Fraser Ballroom at Ramada Cornwall.

“We are searching for a role (post-Afghanistan), perhaps were re-finding an old role,” he said, suggesting the reserve is working to reestablish roots in the community.

Steeves said one of the places they reached out to first was the CCPS and George Knezevic was the first to accept their invitation.

“George has a special relationship with our regiment. We are not front line police officers but we do have a role to play. We have been involved with George for a long time now and he’s been helping us with everything from tactical level advice to operational planning. It has been a real pleasure to have George as a shadow member of our unit.”

The major then presented Knezevic with regimental coin #448 to make him an official member of the SDG Highlanders.

It wouldn’t be the only time Knezevic made his way up to accept awards. He was given a 25 year service award and police board awards for innovation a creativity and community service.

Four retirements

Four members of the Cornwall Community Police Service have retired. Const. Lawrence Campeau was recognized for his 35 year career. Claire Denis retired after stating as a communicator with the service in 2002. Staff Sgt. Shawn White started in 1985 with the CCPS and finished his career heading up the Criminal Investigations Branch.

Here’s a rundown of some of the other awards:

Police Exemplary Service – 30 Year Bar – Staff. Sgt. Shawn White

Police Exemplary Service – 20 Year Medal – Const. Sherri Cameron

Police Exemplary Service – 20 Year Medal – Sgt. Scott Coulter

Police Exemplary Service – 20 Year Medal – Insp. Shawna Spowart

CCPS Long Service Award – 35 Years – Const. Lawrence Campeau

CCPS Long Service Award – 35 Years – Kevin Malloy

CCPS Long Service Award – 35 Years – John Parisien

CCPS Long Service Award – 30 Years – Diane Gibeau

CCPS Long Service Award – 30 Years – Staff Sgt. Shawn White

CCPS Long Service Award – 25 Years – Acting Staff Sgt. George Knezevic

CCPS Long Service Award – 25 Years – Staff Sgt. Daniel Maille

CCPS Long Service Award – 20 Years – Const. Sherri Cameron

CCPS Long Service Award – 20 Years – Sgt. Scott Coulter

CCPS Long Service Award – 20 Years – Insp. Shawn Spowart

CCPS Long Service Award – 15 Years – Special Const. Luanne Doll

CCPS Long Service Award – 15 Years – Christine Laprade

CCPS Long Service Award – 15 Years – Sgt. Emidio Piunno

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Angela Brissard

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Claire Denis

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Const. Patrick Depratto

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Const. Michel Gauvin

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Cynthia Goulet

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Kathleen Labossiere

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Mylene Lacroix

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Const. Jennifer Payment

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Rosanne Purcell

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Const. Michel Riel

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Shelley Rochon

CCPS Long Service Award – 10 Years – Const. Stephen Whitehorne

Long Service – 10 Years – Raymonde McDonald

Police Board Awards of Excellence

The police board also handed out awards to Officers and civilian members for their roles in various areas.

Const. Sherri Cameron received the award for dedication.

Angela Brissard, Karley Gagnon and Christine Laprade were given the award for teamwork for their handling a “crisis situation” in the dispatch area after getting a call about an apartment fire.

Sergeant Emidio Piunno and Const. Kevin Wells also received a teamwork award for handling a call about a suicidal man who had locked himself in an apartment with a knife to his throat. They were able to get the man to put the knife down and let them inside.

Det. Consts. Emma Wilson and Carole Lalonde were given the investigation award of excellence. Wilson had investigated a case in June 2014 of criminal harassment, where a woman was receiving mysterious packages and letters. Lalonde, a forensics officer, was able to lift a single fingerprint on one of the letters. The print showed up in an RCMP database and they were able to find the suspect who lived in a building next to the victim. The man was convicted.

In the innovation and creativity category, the winners were Const. Rodney Degray, Auxiliary Sgt. Anna Joseph and Acting Staff Sgt. George Knezevic. The three developed a plan to expand training and have police officers volunteer to mentor them.

Fourteen officers and civilian members of CCPS (see photo in the gallery below) received the police board award of excellence for community service for their role in helping out a man who pawned his wedding ring in order buy food to take care of his wife, who was suffering from dementia.

Officer behind ‘Hero Bear’ program receives award

David Michaud received the Cornwall Police Association Award Recipient. The staff sergeant has “portrayed the police association in a positive light,” said CPA President Dave MacLean. Michaud has been involved in Special Olympics, the Torch Run and the Hero Bear fundraising initiative.

Recognizing community links

David Cottreau received a five year service recognition for the Mobile Community Watch Program. Cottreau takes his time to patrol the city and report any suspicious or criminal activity.

Recognized for five years service with the Police Auxiliary Program. Auxiliary Const. Justin Bouchard and Daniel Spooner weren’t able to attend the awards ceremony.

Click on an image below to open a gallery of the awards.

A bagpiper plays in the colour party Oct. 22, 2015 during the 21st Annual Retirement & Recognition Evening for Cornwall Community Police Service. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

The colour party enters a ballroom at Ramada Cornwall on Oct. 22, 2015 during the 21st Annual Retirement & Recognition Evening for the Cornwall Community Police Service. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

Cornwall Police Board chairman Andre Rivette gives an award to Det. Const. Carole Lalonde. She and Det. Const. Emma Wilson (absent) received awards of excellence in the investigation category for solving a case with a single fingerprint. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

The recipients of the Police Board Award of Excellence for community service are, in no particular order, Const. James Lemoyre, Const. Rodney Degray, Const. Casey MacGregor, Claire Denis, Tasha Marcotte, Const. Daniel Doyon, Const. Kimberley Norman, Acting Staff Sgt. George Knezevic, Sgt. Patrick Paquette, Josee Lalonde, Const. Michel Riel, Jenna Legault and Jody Sheard. Missing is Const. Cody Casselman. The group was responsible for retrieving the wedding ring of a man who had pawned it to care for his wife who was suffering from dementia. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

David Cottreau, left, receives the Mobile Community Watch Program award for five years of service to his community. Presenting the award on Oct. 22, 2015 is Chief Dan Parkinson. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

SDG Highlanders Maj. Jason A. Steeves, left, presents Acting Staff Sgt. George Knezevic with a regimental coin for his help and guidance with the SD&G Highlanders. The presentation was made during an awards ceremony Oct. 22, 2015. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)